The Wedding Photographer in Portugal | Vila Galé Collection Palácio dos Arcos: the wait of the bride

THE WAITS by the LISBON WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

Bride with the smartphone before the make up moment at Hotel Vila Galé Collection Palácio dos Arcos.

Some photos while the bride waits for her turn to get her hair done for the wedding day, at the Vila Galé Collection Palácio dos Arcos in Oeiras

• Pode ler este artigo em Português.

A Wedding Day Is Like a Marathon

Bride seated in the bed while waiting for the make up.

Anyone who frequently reads my articles on this wedding photographer blog might get the idea that a wedding day is a kind of marathon—which it is—at a 100-meter sprint pace, like the final of the Olympics—which it also is. But there are also breaks, or rather, waiting moments while all the wedding-related tasks are completed, first for some, then for others.

That’s why, after rushing back and forth between a groom who is just about ready and a bride who I assume must also be at the finish line of her first stage, I rang the doorbell, only to find her completely relaxed:

“Fernando, we haven’t started yet! I’m waiting for my mom to have her hair done, and only after that, it’s my turn.”

The Moment, the Bride, the Makeup, and Wedding Photography

But don’t think the wedding photographer just stands around quietly. Not at all. Now, the bride waits, and right after that, the mother waits for the makeup artist to finish with the aunt so she can be ready on time, allowing the bride to move on to the next phase.

So, the wedding photographer never stops—constantly searching for the best angle—and then suddenly spots the mother watching attentively from afar. Quietly, I settle under a lamp, peering through my camera, waiting for the perfect moment to capture a close-up of the bride’s face in the makeup process.

Some people get to pause for a moment, but the wedding photographer? Not a chance.

Bride, out of focused, in the make up process with her mother in the background.

Point by Point:

A wedding day, for everyone—but especially for the photographer—is a kind of marathon that often lasts even longer.
It includes 100-meter dashes, sometimes with obstacles, sometimes without, but also slower moments that allow for some recharging before the next intense phase.
That’s why, after rushing between the bride and groom, a bit of calm is welcome—or, at least, a certain serenity in capturing the unfolding moments.
But even then, the wedding photographer never truly rests. There are always photos happening, even while the bride waits for her turn to have her hair styled.
The truth is, a wedding photographer’s day is one of constant dedication, with very few real breaks. But that’s just how it is—and it’s worth it.

You Need to Know:

This is the reality: a wedding photographer’s workday is physically and mentally demanding. When you look at the final photos, separated from the time and place they were taken, it all seems effortless. But in truth, it takes immense effort. Keep that in mind when choosing your photographer.
Let’s schedule a meeting where I can show you my wedding albums and many other carefully captured photos. Contact me.

These photos—and the so-called “break” of the photographer—took place at the Vila Galé Collection Palácio dos Arcos in Paço de Arcos, Oeiras.